Vikings' Blair Walsh: 'They can ice me all they want,' but it won't stop him from kicking winning field goals

Vikings kicker Blair Walsh (3) shouts for joy after beating the Packers with a 29-yard field goal as time expires on the clock at the Metrodome on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

The Green Bay Packers tried to ice Blair Walsh. Just before he attempted a 29-yard field goal, which he made, the Packers called a timeout. Walsh had to kick it again. Another 29-yarder? No problem for this rookie out of Georgia who set a single-season NFL record with 10 field goals of 50 or more yards and made the Pro Bowl.

Walsh made the kick as time expired, lifting the Vikings to a 37-34 victory Sunday, Dec. 30, over the Packers and into the playoffs, where they will face the Packers again, this time at Lambeau Field.

I talked to Walsh after the game, after a three field-goal day that included a 54-yarder, after he had completed a regular season that included 35 field goals in 38 attempts.

BS: What exactly goes through your mind when you have to make a kick that means sending you to the playoffs?

BW: Adrian (Peterson) made it really easy on me and gave me a 20-whatever yarder. It's so simple for me to go out and hit. Great blocking. Great snap. Great hold. I put it up.

BS: Were you expecting to have to kick a 50-plus field goal before Peterson's 26-yard run (put the ball at the 11)?

BW: I was ready to go hit a 50-plus. I probably carried that over a little to the short one. I tried to kill it.

BS: Were you surprised you had to make the kick twice, or were you expecting the Packers to call a timeout?

BW: I heard it as we were going through the steps. I heard it, and I hit it.

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I knew it didn't count. They can ice me all they want as far as I'm concerned.

BS: Did you like having that first kick as a warm-up?

BW: That's not bad. I don't care. Twenty-nine yards. You've got to make that no matter what.

BS: How many times have teams tried icing you in your career, going back to college?

BW: I think (South Carolina coach Steve) Spurrier tried to ice me one time in college and that was about it.

BS: Did it work?

BW: No, I made it.

BS: You started the game with a 54-yarder. Has that distance become automatic for you?

BW: No. None of that stuff is ever automatic. You have to make sure you have great execution all the way around. We did. We had great blocking, and we just put the ball up.

BS: Do you empty your mind before you kick (a game-winning field goal) or are there emotions you go through?

BW: No. You just go out there and hit it. You don't think about any emotions or anything like that. You don't make it too complicated.

BS: Did you think about making a tackle on that kickoff return early in the game?

BW: No. I just tried to get in the guy's way. I knew I wasn't going to be able to make the tackle. He was going full speed. I just hoped I'd be able to slow him down just enough. I think he sort of ran through my arm a little bit and it slowed him down just a tad. Somebody else finished him off.

BS: Is the season you've had beyond your wildest expectation?

BW: I don't know. I can't predict that stuff or think about it. When I came in, all I wanted to do was be dependable for this team, and I think I've done that so far. Now is where it really counts. We're about to be in the playoffs.

BS: How much practicing will you do outdoors this week knowing you have to kick at Lambeau Field?

BW: Hopefully, we can find an area that doesn't have snow on it. We'll figure it out.

BS: Do you know what your range is outdoors in the winter?

BW: No idea. No idea.

BS: What's the coldest you've ever kicked in?

BW: Probably some game this year. I don't know. I don't know if Green Bay was colder than Chicago. I really don't know.